Back in the offseason, when St. Vincent Pallotti girls soccer coach Maceo Rojas evaluated the girls soccer program he'd just inherited, there were a few things that worried him.
"When I found out we had only two returning seniors (Madison Hannon, Anastasia Barrett) that was a big concern," Rojas said, noting that 11 of the 19 players on the roster are either freshmen or sophomores.
Despite their youth and relative inexperience, Rojas says a number of the newcomers are already playing at a high level.
They include three freshmen: goalie Tahlia Brown-Stangherlin and twins Mia and Lindsay Thweatt, who play midfield and forward, respectively.
He expects them to do nothing but shine as they compete in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland C Conference.
"Coming in with three really talented freshmen, that definitely helps the situation," Rojas explained. "They are really super athletes and they are very good players as well. They aren't necessarily the rah-rah type. They are just really solid players. They are definitely something to build around."
Rojas has been especially impressed with the 5-foot-10 Brown-Stangherlin and her athleticism.
She has a soccer background and is expected to play varsity basketball this winter
"She is just ridiculously talented," Rojas said. "She is already good and she could be really something special. She is a basketball player, so has really great hands and when she is in the air, she can really snag the ball. She just swallows up the ball. It is great for a goalie to have such length."
The defense that will be protecting Brown-Stangherlin is spearheaded by three returning starters.
They include senior Madison Hannon, junior Dallas Holt and sophomore Theresa Rinker.
Sophomore Nyah Doe, a first-year player, will also be a big part of the defense.
"We are definitely experienced on defense and a team starts with defense," Rojas said. "Our defense is really solid overall."
Pallotti's offense will center around sophomore forward Ayanna Green and Lindsay Thweatt.
Green, last year's leading scorer, had a goal to spark the Panthers' season-opening 3-2 victory over Our Lady of Mount Carmel, an IAAM B Conference team, on Sept. 8.
The Panthers followed that up with a 7-1 win over Oldfields and 3-2 conquest of Indian Creek.
"She is smart, quick, has a good touch with the ball and moves well off it," Rojas said of Green.
Three junior midfielders who are returning starters — Caroline Falcone, Raquel Guzman and Mya Spivey — will be among the players feeding the forwards the ball.
Rojas inherited a team with seven returning starters and replaced Lee Campbell.
An Odenton resident, Rojas coached the Owings Mills High JV the past two years.
"I am familiar with the Pallotti community," Rojas said of one of the reasons he took the position. My daughter is in eighth grade and there's a possibility of her going there next year. When that opportunity came that I could coach her and at a private school, I jumped on it."
Pallotti athletic director Lee Ann Elman said Rojas has been a great fit.
"He is very laid back and quiet," Elman said. "I think the girls are relating to him very well for that reason."
Pallotti assistant soccer coaches Marissa Slayton and Keriann McGettigan have also been a valuable asset to the program.
"They are working out incredibly well," Elman said. "The girls look up to them and admire them. I was concerned initially that they would just want to be buddies with them. But they love them and are treating them with a lot of respect."
Slayton says the team's chemistry has been tremendous.
"If you come to a practice, you won't know who the freshman, sophomores or seniors are," Slayton said. "They have completely bonded off the field."